Coaching – Dr. Ron Geisler

Leading Imperfectly is Obedience

God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. He loves taking men like you and me and using us anyway.

I know that voice inside your head.

The one that keeps saying you’re too damaged, too messed up, too far gone to step up and lead your wife, your kids, your home.

The voice tells you you’ve blown it. Shame hits hard. It tries to convince you to step back, hide out, wait until you’re “fixed” before you lead again.

But here’s the truth— God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. He loves taking men like you and me and using us anyway.

Think about David. He committed adultery and then orchestrated a murder to cover it up. When Nathan called him out, David didn’t make excuses. He owned it. In Psalm 51, he prays, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

God called that broken man “a man after My own heart.” The same flawed king led a nation and wrote psalms that still set people free today.

Or Peter, who swore he’d die for Jesus—then denied Him three times. Regret wrecked him. But Jesus didn’t write him off.

By the fire, Jesus restored him: “Do you love Me?” Peter got back up, led the early church, and one sermon later, 3,000 people came to faith.

Your failures don’t disqualify you. That’s exactly where God does His best work. He turns weakness into a powerful testimony, shame into redemption, brokenness into a breakthrough.

So here’s your one practical next step today—Stop hiding.

Get alone with God and name that one thing—the regret, the wound, the imperfection—say it out loud to Him.

Repent fully, no excuses. Then get up and lead anyway. Show up, flaws and all.

Because real biblical leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about pursuing God’s heart persistently, even in weakness. That’s where true strength is forged.

That’s exactly what we do in Rebound Week 4—building men who lead like David and Peter: repentant, resilient, relentless.

Who’s feeling that tug in your chest right now? Drop a “YES” in the comments if you’re ready to lead through the mess.

Share this with another man who needs this reminder.

From Burnout to Confidence: Living as a Son

You don’t have to wait until you “feel” like a son. Start acting like one—speak it, thank Him for it, and pray from that place—and the feelings will catch up.

If you’re feeling worn out, like you’re carrying a weight you can’t quite name, and no matter how hard you try, you still feel like you’re coming up short in your own eyes, I need you to hear me clearly:

You are not an orphan trying to earn your way back into the family. You are a son. Right now. Today. You are fully loved, fully accepted, and fully pleasing to the Father—not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Jesus has already done.

I see this every single day with men just like you. They’re good guys—they go to church, provide for their families, and stay faithful—but deep down, they’re living as though they still have to prove their worth. And that lie is exhausting.

Here’s the truth: the moment you trusted Christ, the Father looked at you just as He looked at Jesus when He came up out of the water, saying: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). That’s not just a nice; that’s your new legal identity. It’s locked in and non-negotiable.

When you start living from this place, everything shifts. You stop performing for approval. You stop snapping at your kids out of insecurity. You stop withdrawing from your wife because you feel like a failure. Instead, you start to lead from a place of rest rather than striving.

This is precisely what we focus on in Week 2 of Rebound—rebuilding your identity in Christ.

Here are four things you can do today to start living like the son you already are:

Say it out loud first thing in the morning: “I am God’s beloved Son. There is no condemnation for me. Christ lives in me.” Say this until your soul begins to believe it more than your feelings do.

The moment you notice yourself trying to “earn” God’s love, stop and say: “Father, thank You that I already have Your full approval because of Jesus. I rest in that right now.” Gratitude counters the performance trap every time.

Next time you pray—even if it’s just in the car—start with “Abba, Father…” (Romans 8:15). Talk with Him the way a secure child talks to a dad who loves him deeply. No need to grovel; just engage in honest, confident conversation.

When the enemy whispers, “You’re failing again,” “You’re not enough,” or “God’s disappointed,” don’t let those thoughts dominate. Respond with: “No. I’ve been crucified with Christ. The old me is dead. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Speak truth louder than the accusation.

You don’t have to wait until you “feel” like a son. Start acting like one—speak it, thank Him for it, and pray from that place—and the feelings will catch up.

I’ve seen men go from feeling burned out to becoming confident leaders in just weeks once this understanding clicks. Your wife will notice the change, your kids will see it, and you’ll feel it.

You’re not an orphan anymore; you are a son. Start living like it today.

Drop a comment below if you’re choosing sonship right now. Share this with friend who needs to hear this—he might be carrying the same weight you once did.

And if you’re ready to go all-in and rebuild every part of your life—marriage, family leadership, purpose, strength, brotherhood, mission—just comment “REBOUND,” and I’ll send you the full roadmap.

Pursue Your Wife

A godly husband doesn’t wait for romance to happen. He initiates it.

A godly husband doesn’t wait for romance to happen. He initiates it. God commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). That sacrificial, pursuing love isn’t passive. Jesus pursued you when you were far off—He initiated, He pursued, He gave everything.

Your wife needs that same initiating love from you.

In the Song of Solomon, the husband doesn’t sit back; he pursues with passion: “Behold, you are beautiful, my love… You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride, with one glance of your eyes” (Song of Solomon 4:1,9).

He notices her, affirms her, draws her in. He leads the romance.

Colossians 3:19 echoes it: “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” Love actively, tenderly, without bitterness.

With everything going on in your life, it’s easy to coast in this area. But coasting cools intimacy. Your wife may not say it out loud, but she still longs to feel pursued, desired, cherished—like she’s your bride, not just your roommate.

So initiate today:

Plan a date night

Text her something specific you love about her—not generic, but personal.

Hold her hand, look her in the eyes, tell her she’s captivating.

Pursue emotional connection first—listen without fixing—then let physical intimacy flow from that heart-bond.

This is biblical masculinity in action. Lead with love. Initiate with strength and tenderness. Watch God rekindle the fire in your marriage.

Your wife is worth the pursuit. She’s your gift from God.

Husbands: Who’s stepping up this week to pursue your wife like Jesus pursues us?

Drop a comment if you’re committing to initiate romance this week. Or DM me if you need practical ideas from the Rebound 8-Week Transformation Program for Men.

Your marriage matters eternally. Lead it well.

Small Steps to Stay Close to Jesus

The enemy loves it when we feel too busy or too messed up to reach out. But Jesus wants you leaning on Him, depending on His strength, walking with Him through the ordinary stuff.

Life hits hard sometimes, doesn’t it?

Between work piling up, the kids needing you, temptations popping up out of nowhere, and just trying to keep it all together, it’s easy to feel like your connection with Jesus gets pushed to the back burner.

But listen: He’s not the one who drifted. He’s right here with you, closer than you think, ready the second you turn to Him.

You don’t have to have a perfect morning routine or an hour of uninterrupted prayer to stay close today. Just take the real, small steps that fit your actual life:

When stress starts building, just say His name quietly—”Jesus…”

On your drive or while you’re waiting for something, thank Him for one real thing

Pull up your Bible app for literally 60 seconds—read a couple verses and let them hit you

When that old temptation shows up, stop and speak: “Lord, I can’t do this alone. I need you right now.”

Those little moments? They’re huge. Every time you turn toward Him, even a little, you’re choosing closeness over distance.

The enemy loves it when we feel too busy or too messed up to reach out. But Jesus wants you leaning on Him, depending on His strength, walking with Him through the ordinary stuff.

Today, just choose to stay close. One small step at a time. He’s already right there meeting you.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8

Who Is the Captain of Your Soul?

In a world that celebrates self-made men—the guy who grinds harder, achieves more, and bows to no one—there’s a famous line that has inspired countless people: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”

You probably recognize it from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley. It’s a defiant declaration of human strength in the face of suffering. Henley wrote it from a hospital bed, battling an illness that had already cost him a leg. Many men admire that grit. I get it. Something is appealing about standing unconquered, steering your own ship no matter the storm.

But here’s the truth I’ve seen in coaching middle-aged Christian men like you: when we insist on being the sole captain of our souls, we often end up shipwrecked. Oscar Wilde, reflecting on his own downfall in De Profundis, admitted as much: “I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it.” He had chased pleasure and self-rule, only to find it led to ruin.

The reality is, most men today aren’t even aware who’s steering their inner ship. We pour our energy into careers, families, hobbies, and ministry—building impressive public lives—while our private world, our soul, lies neglected and disordered. Like Gordon MacDonald warns in Ordering Your Private World, if we don’t cultivate strength on the inside, our outer lives will eventually collapse.

Think about it: If someone asked you today, “How is it with your soul?”—a question John Wesley used to hold his people accountable—would you have a real answer? Or would you pause, clueless, because no one’s ever pressed you there? Too many good Christian men are left stammering, because we’ve never learned to tend the garden of our inner lives.

Biblical masculinity isn’t about self-mastery in isolation. It’s about strength under authority—surrendering the captain’s wheel to Jesus Christ, the true Lord of our souls. When we do that, we regain purpose, a deep connection with God and others, and the resilience to lead our families and communities with integrity.

One Simple Step to Begin Ordering Your Private World

You don’t need a complete overhaul today. Start with one actionable practice that any man can do immediately: Set aside 10 minutes each morning for unhurried time with God in Scripture and prayer, specifically asking Him, “How is it with my soul, Lord?”

Here’s how to do it right now:

Find a quiet spot—before the demands of the day hit. No phone, no distractions.
Read a short passage—start with a Psalm (like Psalm 139 or 51) or a few verses from the Gospels.
Pray honestly—Invite Jesus to search your heart. Speak the question out loud: “Lord, how is it with my soul today?” Then listen. Journal what comes up: gratitude, sin to confess, fears, joys, or just silence.
End by surrendering—Pray something like: “Jesus, You are the Captain of my soul. Order my inner world today for Your glory.”

This isn’t optional soul-care fluff. It’s the foundation of thriving in biblical masculinity. When your private world is ordered around Christ, you’ll lead with clearer purpose, love your wife and kids from overflow rather than exhaustion, and stand firm when culture pressures you to compromise.

The unconquerable soul isn’t the one that defies God—it’s the one submitted to Him. Take that first step tomorrow morning. Regain command by handing the wheel to the One who calms the storms.

You’ve got this, because He’s got you.

Overcome Burnout: Rediscover Your Purpose as a Man of God

You’re not a victim! Don’t be the guy who wakes up every morning in a living hell like this:

…every morning he wakes up hollow, staring at a family that no longer looks to him for strength, carrying the crushing shame of knowing he’s failing God’s calling as a husband and father—trapped in regret, isolation, and the terrifying realization that his legacy will be one of wasted potential and broken relationships.

What if there was a better way?

Your home becomes a place of joy, unity, and godly power; your work gains eternal purpose; your prayers carry fire; and you walk with unshakeable confidence knowing you are the man God created you to be—fully alive, deeply honored, and leaving a legacy that echoes into eternity.

I’ve walked through the valley of burnout myself and know the agony of losing my fire. God pulled me out and commanded me to pull others out too, and because the enemy is aggressively destroying Christian men and families—I refuse to stand by while that happens.

God has a great plan for you. Let’s take the next 8 weeks to focus on living out God’s best for you. Email, “REBOUND” to ron@reboundlifecoaching.com, and we’ll get started.

You Are What You Feed

Unless the patterns are broken, we will continue to feed the old wolf…

At what point do you get tired of pretending? At this age, you promised yourself that you would become the man your family and your future self could respect. But you keep returning to the same old patterns and habits like a dog returning to its vomit.

One day, an old Cherokee man sits down with his grandson to teach him about life.

“A fight is going on inside of me,” he says to the boy. “It’s a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil – he is full of rage, jealousy, arrogance, greed, sorrow, regret, lies, laziness, and self-pity.”

He continues, “The other is good – he is filled with love, joy, peace, generosity, truth, empathy, courage, humility, and faith. This same fight is going on inside the hearts of everyone, including you.”

The grandson thinks about this for a few minutes and then asks his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replies, “The one you feed.”

Unless the patterns are broken, we will continue to feed the old wolf and act as we did in our 20s and 30s. So let’s be honest: you are succeeding in your career, your health, even your marriage, but your self-control is wrecked. Anger outbursts. Scrolling porn addiction. Envious of other guys.

We think, “I should have handled this by now.” That’s shame talking, and shame keeps guys stuck. You’re not broken. It’s dopamine! Only about 5% of men actually deal with their old, broken patterns and habits. Let’s treat this like the high-performance issue it is. We don’t shame a Ferrari for needing premium fuel; we give it what it runs on. At midlife, we need some new non-negotiables.

Environment beats willpower every single time. You need a new system to break old habits. Your integrity is counting on it. High performers can’t rely solely on willpower. You’ll need to pre-decide and build some accountability into your life. Transparency is key.

Here’s a plan to implement right now.

Your mind is running on junk – endless feeds, outrage clicks, soft-core everywhere. Starting tomorrow, initiate 30 minutes of something that builds you up; Scripture, high-level podcast, silence, whatever – but zero social media, zero news, zero stimulation that drags you down. You’re creating space for the Holy Spirit to rewire your neural pathways. Thirty minutes.

Now, the scary part: radical honesty with one other man. Not a therapist (although that’s great), not your wife yet (too much risk), but one brother who’s been in the arena. You’re going to text him today and say, “I need an accountability partner for integrity. Can we talk 10 minutes a week?” Confession isn’t weakness; it’s the fastest way to cut shame off at the knees and get real momentum.

It’s about becoming a man who refuses to let his appetites run his life. You do these and you won’t recognize yourself in 30 days.

I’m called to help men make these kinds of life changes and recreate themselves in ways their family and future self can respect. If this post has your name written all over it, reach out, and we can work together to make this second half something you can be proud of.

God’s Not Done with You, Yet

You are a remarkable work in progress.

Every man undergoes this journey, though not all choose to embrace the evolution that comes with it. Some may cling tightly to the past, feeling the echoes of their glory days in high school, forever trapped in a time when life felt simpler. They resist growth, unaware of the incredible potential that lies ahead. But that’s not your story.

You stand ready to welcome the journey of self-improvement. You aspire to be not only a better husband and father but also an inspiring grandfather. You’re determined to fill this season of your life with wisdom, purpose, and thoughtful direction. It’s true that you may have stumbled in the past—welcome to life! What lies ahead is a chance to rise stronger, wiser, and more fulfilled.

This is your moment. You are prepared to do the hard work of reinvention, to breathe life into dreams that may have been put on hold. You refuse to let regret shape your future. Instead, you want to command the respect of your wife, earn the admiration of your adult children, and transform your work into a mission that resonates with significance and joy.

That’s why I have developed the Rebound Process: to help men like you thrive as they navigate the second half of life. If you’re a Christian man over 50 seeking more fulfillment in this next chapter, let’s connect. Together, we’ll craft a clear mission that reflects your deepest values and establish a roadmap of actionable steps to get you there.

Time waits for no one, and as we look ahead, let’s make 2026 a remarkable turning point. Don’t just hope for a better future—let’s create it together! Reach out to me, and let’s embark on this transformative journey. Your best days are yet to come!

The Boy I Was, the Man I Will Be

Reflection is a vital practice, especially at this stage of life. Many men lose themselves in the routine of daily life. They forget to assess who they are. They also forget to evaluate who they want to be. Don’t let that be your story.

A Call to Action for Men in the Second Half of Life

As I recently went through my old journals, I was flooded with memories and reflections. My entries began in 1989 when I was twenty. Back then, I was just a boy on the verge of becoming a man, filled with dreams and optimism. I hadn’t journaled before. The encouragement of Christian friends inspired me to put pen to paper. This act would become a profound part of my growth.

Today, I reflect on those early entries through the lens of my experiences. I realize that this journey has shaped me. I am still becoming the man I aspire to be. I want to share some insights with you. They may inspire your own journey. You are navigating this important stage of life.

– Rekindle Your Innocence: Remember the days when life felt simpler. Your faith was untainted by the complexities of adulthood. Embrace that innocence again! It’s never too late to pursue dreams with that same fervor and clarity. Let go of the cynicism that may have crept in over the years.

– Revisit Your Commitment: Think back to your early passion—when your commitment to your beliefs and values was fresh. That fire is still within you, waiting to be reignited. Draw strength from your values and let them guide your actions today.

– Be Bold in Your Pursuits: Life can present challenges that feel daunting. Now is not the time to retreat. Embrace your calling with courage. The strength gained through experience equips you to take bold risks and pursue your purpose with confidence.

– Stay Humble and Teachable: The learning never stops. Be open to the lessons that life presents. Allow yourself to grow in wisdom, and stay eager for the things that add depth and meaning to your life.

As I reflected on my past, I confronted the reality that my perspective has shifted over time. While the challenges I’ve faced have often led to cynicism, those experiences have profoundly shaped me. Yet, with awareness comes empowerment—the opportunity to change direction.

Reading through my journals reignited a desire within me to reclaim the passion I had in my youth. If I’m to thrive in the next chapter of my life, it’s time to awaken from the slumber of complacency. I am determined to shed negativity. I will embrace a renewed sense of holiness. This is not a quiet meekness but a fiery passion. It propels me toward my calling.

Think of resilience—like Russell Crowe in Robin Hood. As he rises to face challenges, we too can make a commitment. We can “rise and rise again until lambs become lions” in this crucial part of our lives.

So here’s my challenge to you: Start journaling if you haven’t already. Chronicle your thoughts, aspirations, and the lessons learned along the way. Revisit those entries and track your personal growth. Pay close attention to what ignites your passion and blends seamlessly with your purpose. If you find yourself drifting off course, it’s time to make some changes.

You are worth the effort. Reclaim those dreams from your youth, and embrace the man you are destined to become.

Let go of the baggage that has accumulated over the years. Confess your struggles, seek forgiveness, and allow the Holy Spirit to awaken the fire within you. If you’ve lost your path, now is the moment to remember who you once wanted to be. Take the time to make a plan, seek guidance, and take that all-important first step.

Let’s rise together, not just for ourselves but for the lives we have yet to touch—rise and rise again!

Today’s simple thought…

Men in the second half of life find themselves uniquely positioned to keep their integrity and model discipleship for younger followers of Jesus.

Let me know what you think.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

One Simple Step to Begin Ordering Your Private World

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: